9to5Mac Writer Upgrades From Apple Watch Series 10 to Series 12, Citing Health Features and Speed

The writer said he does not often upgrade his Apple Watch right when a new model comes out. He had purchased the Apple Watch Series 10 this January, even though that model first launched in September 2024. The Series 12 was still a highly compelling purchase, he wrote, despite the fact that the two devices largely share the same design language.

On design, the article said the Series 12 is arguably a regression because its bezels are slightly thicker than those of the Series 10. That did not bother the writer, who said he uses a watch face with a black background.

What drew him to the Series 12 were its new features. He specifically cited the much improved heart-rate monitor and the new Readiness app. Everything on the Series 12 also feels substantially faster, especially Siri, according to the article.

Health tracking was a central reason for the upgrade. Previous Apple Watches never really gave the writer what he wanted in terms of health tracking, he said, while the Series 12 provides much more insight. Before, he wrote, users sort of just had activity rings and a bunch of scattered data in the Health app. Now, the new Health app tells users everything they need to know in an incredibly useful manner, according to the article.

The writer said he is still wearing his WHOOP, primarily because he wants to compare the two over a longer term before ditching it fully. As of now, he said, Apple's Health app holds up, and he is happy with what the Apple Watch Series 12 offers in terms of health tracking. He also wrote that the WHOOP is a $239 per year subscription that largely does not offer much over Apple Health anymore.

In sum, the writer described his Apple Watch Series 12 purchase as part of Apple's major push into getting serious as a health wearable. It no longer feels like as much of an afterthought, he wrote.